Best Travel Credit Cards in India
With the pandemic-led restrictions easing, it’s time to say goodbye to your sweatpants! How about taking that long-awaited trip to the Sunderbans? Whether you’re planning a romantic holiday in Leh, a fun-filled vacation in Goa or an exciting road trip from Jaisalmer to Bhubaneshwar, it’s time to get a travel credit card.
Jobs fill your pockets; Adventures fill your soul ~ Jamie Lyn Beatty
Top Travel Credit Cards in India
SBI Card ELITE
Make Life Simple
It’s a versatile card for not only travels but also for departmental store spends, groceries, dining, and watching movies.
You can use the card effectively to save on travel expenses. Although the annual fee is high, the welcome vouchers are worth much more. You can even redeem them for travel vouchers from Yatra. Moreover, you can get access to Club Vistara Silver Membership that lets you enjoy various benefits with Vistara Airlines like flight upgrades. Other offers include complimentary domestic (via MasterCard/Visa) and International (under Priority Pass) lounge access. There are even hotel benefits (but restricted to Trident Hotels exclusively).
If you wish to use the card on international travels, you can save a lot since the forex markup is quite lower than the general markup.
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
Don’t Get Lost on Purpose Without It
It’s best for consumers seeking travel benefits while also willing to redeem reward points for travel vouchers. This card is perfect if they spend a lot and want travel perks and promotions. The reward rate is great. Cardholders are given full freedom to use reward points, which can be easily redeemed for buying other items from the catalogue.
Extra benefits are up to 2 add-on credit cards at no additional cost, emergency card replacement, platinum assist services, and fuel convenience fee waivers available at HPCL fuel stations.
However, the joining and annual fees might be a little high for some consumers.
Photo by jcomp
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
The luxury Credit Card that Understands Your World
It’s a top premium travel card in India, suitable for frequent travellers and heavy spenders. The card offers several international and domestic lounge visits every year. The annual fee is low and can be waived off based on your spending. It has a low foreign exchange markup fee. Besides, you can get reward points on spending milestones and redeem them for air ticket booking or buying great gifts from their catalogue.
Some additional benefits are dining privileges offered by the bank’s Good Food Trail Dining Program, and a 1-year complimentary dine-out passport membership.
Citi PremierMiles Credit Card
Never Miss Another Mile
It’s appropriate for frequent travellers within India interested in availing air mile benefits like discounted and even free flights. Unlike many co-branded cards, this card allows redeeming the earned miles across various airlines. These miles never expire. Therefore, you can keep earning plenty of miles and redeem them anytime.
However, this card doesn’t provide lounge access at airports. Also, do remember to check the foreign exchange markup.
There’s a credit card for all purposes! Before choosing a travel credit card, do compare fees and benefits. Also, apply for the card well in time, so that your travel plans are not affected by a delay.
